Bacari Culver City

Hot new-ish restaurant in Downtown Culver City (they just opened in April 2025). It was poppin’ on a Wednesday with every table booked. I was thankful we made a reservation on OpenTable a week in advance for a 6:30pm seating. Ambiance: Although it’s a chain restaurant, each location has its own vibe. The DT Culver Bacari has a lively, trendy, and upscale yet unpretentious ambiance, with both indoor and outdoor spaces that create a vibrant and social atmosphere. It was a bit loud inside, but we could still hear the people at our table. I honestly love the arched tile hallway decor on your way to the restrooms in the far back. They have a combination of stained glass and electric chandeliers, and it’s a bright-moody. Service: The food service style is Tapas small plates, and our dishes definitely were very staggered in the arrival to the table. Our server was really nice and knowledgable, and double checked on everything related to allergies and dietary restrictions. Parking: There are two different parking lots I recommend, Cardiff Parking Garage (3846 Cardiff Ave) or the slightly further Culver Parking Garage (3844 Watseka Ave) which usually has more spaces available. Drinks: While I personally didn’t get a cocktail, the two that seemed most popular were the Bacarita ($18) with tequila, watermelon, jalapeño, basil, lime (garnished with a watermelon slice) and the Love Letter ($18) with honeyed whiskey, passionfruit, toasted marshmallow, lemon (yellow in color, garnished with a literal toasted marshmallow). Food: Everything I tried was delicious and very sharable, I just would order more than 2 small dishes if you’re hungry and not sharing everything with your table. From the Gluten Friendly section of their menu, I personally enjoyed: Crudo barramundi, herbed cucumber relish, za'atar, sumac, thinly sliced lemon triangles, frantoia olive oil, sesame, maldon salt ($14.50, GF). If you enjoy seasonings and sashimi, this is the dish for you. The lemon was very mild and sliced thinly, so it was still delicious to eat whole with the raw fish. Shrimp ceviche with citrus fennel vinaigrette, heirloom cherry tomato, cucumber, za'atar, sesame, sumac, Time chili chips ($14.50, GF). I personally dislike the taste of fennel, so I ended up removing most of the fennel after the first few bites. Next time, I’d ask to see if they can remove the fennel, or I’ll just opt for something else.

Tons of great gluten free options. The food is incredible. Love the vibes. A top Culver spot to become regulars at